October 27, 2025
A friend of mine in rural Appalachia used to say when life felt really hard, she needed to feed the birds. She couldn’t give very much. We both lived in the poorest county in the state. Jobs were hard to find. Restaurants and retail businesses closed frequently. My friend didn’t have extra money in her budget to give away. But she said she always found a way to feed the birds. And it was when things seemed the most difficult that she knew she needed to refill those feeders.
Giving helps both the giver and the recipient. It allows us to find perspective and meaning. Even a small gift, like feeders full of seed for migrating birds, can restore our hope. In this issue of Justice This Week, we are exploring ways to give, from supporting the international nonprofits that rushed to help Texas in the wake of deadly floods, to college community members coming together to resist ICE actions, to how protesting can lead to civic engagement.
Every time we help we remember we are not helpless.
Dr. Alison Stine
Climate Justice
Senior Editor
